North Carolina Medical Malpractice Lawyers Discuss How To Prevent a Surgical Error | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Best NC medical malpractice lawyersWhen we go under the knife, either for a simple procedure or a dangerous or complicated surgery, we expect that our surgeons and those in the operating room are experts at what they do. However, all too often, operations lead to injury, permanent disability, and pain and suffering. Although not all surgical errors can be prevented, there are a few ways that patients can help reduce the probability of a surgical error before their own operation.

· Talk to your surgeon about the operation in detail. Ask questions as you see fit. Make sure he or she understand which body part is being operated on, while remembering that your right leg is the leg on the surgeon’s left.

· Mark the right limb. Wrong limb surgery is a common surgical mistake. Don’t hesitate to mark the limb that should be operated on with “Cut Here” and the limb that should not be operated on with “Wrong Arm” or Wrong Leg.”

· Be honest with the anesthesiologist. He or she will ask you questions in order to determine how to safely put you under. Be truthful about your medical history and personal history. Not telling your anesthesiologist about certain medications you take or your alcohol intake could put you in danger.

· Follow doctor’s orders. If your doctor tells you not to eat before surgery, follow his or her instructions.

· Ask if checklists and time-outs will be used during your surgery. A simple checklist can prevent a surgical sponge or clamp from being left in your abdominal cavity. A time out could prevent the wrong limb from being operated on.

· After the surgery, ask for your surgical records in case of complications.

· After the surgery, be honest with your doctor about how you are feeling as you recover. While some pain and minor complications are expected, some symptoms, such as a high fever, could be a sign that something has gone wrong and may even be a result of medical malpractice.